Phlox plant named ‘Junior Surprise’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Junior Surprise’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; freely basally branching habit and short internodes; dense and bushy growth habit; attractive white-colored flowers with violet-colored centers; freely and continuous flowering habit; resistance to Powdery Mildew; and good garden performance.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Phlox paniculata cultivar Junior Surprise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Junior Surprise.

The new Phlox is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Zwaanshoek, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact Phlox cultivars with attractive flower coloration and resistance to Powdery Mildew.

The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 1996 in Zwaanshoek, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata identified as code number 96.05.48, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata identified as code number 96.05.72, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Zwaanshoek, The Netherlands in 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Zwaanshoek, The Netherlands since 1998, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Junior Surprise have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Junior Surprise’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Junior Surprise’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox:

-   -   1. Upright and compact plant habit.     -   2. Freely basally branching habit and short internodes; dense         and bushy grown habit.     -   3. Attractive white-colored flowers and violet-colored centers.     -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Resistant to Powdery Mildew.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant habit as plants of the new Phlox are more compact than plants of the parent selections. In addition, plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection differ in flower coloration.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to the Phlox paniculata cultivar Europa, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Zwaanshoek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Phlox differed from plants of the cultivar Europa in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were more compact than plants of the         cultivar Europa.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox had shorter internodes than plants of         the cultivar Europa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actual colors of the new Phlox.

The photograph is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Junior Surprise’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 't Zand, the Netherlands, in an outdoor nursery and under commercial production practices during the summer. Plants were about 13 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 5 to 20° C. and night temperatures ranged from 2 to 12° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata cultivar Junior Surprise. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata             identified as code number 96.05.48, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata             identified as code number 96.05.72, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at 18° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five weeks at 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four weeks at             18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About six weeks at             18° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, well-branched. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright and compact plant habit; inverted             triangle; moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely basally             branching habit with short internodes, dense and bushy             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 75 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 35 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 75 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Glabrous. Color: 143C; at nodes, 187B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length,             lower leaves: About 18 cm. Width, lower leaves: About             4.6 cm. Length, upper leaves: About 10.5 cm. Width, upper             leaves: About 3.7 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acuminate.             Base: Obtuse to attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Leathery, thick; glabrous. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower             surfaces: 143A. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower             surfaces: 144B. Venation, upper surface: 143A; towards             midrib base, 144D. Venation, lower surface: 144D. Petiole:             Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             144D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single, rounded salverform flowers             arranged in terminal panicles; flowers face upright and             outward. Panicles conical in shape. Freely flowering habit             with about 36 flower buds and flowers per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Faint to moderate; sweet.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from July             through September and 't Zand, The Netherlands. Flowers not             persistent.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four days on             the plant.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Tubular. Color: Center, 155B; towards petal margins,             92A.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 2.1 cm. Depth: About 1.4 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe             length: About 1.5 cm. Lobe width: About 1 cm. Shape: Obovate             to fan-shaped. Apex: Obtuse to rounded. Margin: Entire.             Aspect: Mostly flat; margins slightly curved upwards.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Developing petals, upper surface: 155D. Developing petals,             lower surface: 155B; towards the base, 92A. Fully expanded             petals, upper surface: 155D; eye at center of flower, 85A.             Fully expanded petals, lower surface: 155D; streaks, 85A;             towards base, 91B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused; narrow tubular calyx. Length: About 5 mm.             Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Apiculate. Apex: Acuminate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five; fused with petals in tube. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther color: 2D. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 2D. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: Typically one. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma             shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: 154D. Style length: About             1.4 cm. Style color: 154D. Ovary color: 142C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been noted to     be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new Phlox have not     been noted to be resistant to other pathogens and pests common to     Phlox. -   Garden Performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and are winter     hardy in 'Zand, The Netherlands. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Junior Surprise’, as illustrated and described. 